Newspaper vendor



Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE l1,982,999 NEWSPAPER VENDOR` John GlMiller, Baltimore, vMd. p Application March 3, 1933, Serial No. 659,587

i 14 Claims.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofa coin controlled releasing `mechanism T particularly adapted for use in conjunction with.

thedelivery mechanism; g p

A further objectq'is the `provision `of a vending machine-having a; minimum number of operating parts andwhich will bepositivein operation.

Other objects will appearl from the following disclosure takenin connection with the/accompanying vdrawings, inwhicht:

Figure 1 is asectional view of the completed;

vending'machine. f y Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe delivery mechanism,v the casing being in section.

Fig.' Sis adetailed view ofv the coin releasing elements in disengaging'position. Fig. 4' is adetailedview of the delivery mechanlsmfas it appearsin delivering a paper;` Fig. 5 is asideelevation of Athecomplete device,

and v i Figi. 6 is la similarview with the door open. The casing` represented by5 `provides a chamber for thearticles suchias newspapers 6 to be with the door closed, shown on a reduced scale,-`

delivered,` 'and which may lbeY 'placed thereinA through the'hinged lside 7.` To"cause`theA newspapers't'o move toward the opening 8 in the floor `9 of the casing', the floor is 'inclined downwardly` towardthis opening', as shown. The papers are maintained in. an upright positionfand further urged toward the opening by a follower 'plate 11 carried oninclined guide bars 1-2 alongwhich it may slide. The' lower portion ofthe casing may be formed to 'present a forwardly inclined.` guide plate 13 below and to the rear ofthe opening 8. f

Closing the opening 8 is a door 14 which is preferably pivotally" connected tothe casing vas'by` "a hinge 15.' A spring 16 urges the door to a closed po'sition It is important in connection with this invention that the swinging `movement of fthe ward part appear-Ll f in place by the blocks 18.

(er. 31a-56e) Secured to the forward part of the casing 51 is the supporting structure 17 enclosingthe delivery. mechanism to prevent. access to. it. Thetlowerj. portion of the supporting structure extends below theopening 8 and its rear face 20 opposing. the guide plate 13 is inclined forwardly so as to be substantially parallel with the guide plate and form a discharge passageway between them. In addition to the `purpose which will latervbe A.described, these plates prevent access to the interior of the newspaper casing ,through the opening 8 by unauthorized persons.- .l

Y Carried, as byblocks 18 forming a part of the` supporting structure,-are a pair of slotted guide ways 19, the hinges 21 forming the connecting means. These` hinges provideapivotal mounting for the guides 19to permittheirlower ends toswing into or out of thepassageway below the opening 48,\through apertures 22,. in the inclined face 20 ofthe enclosing structure'l'?. The guides` are urged into the passageway by` springs 23-held yPositioned within the slots 24 `of the guide ways so as tohave substantially vertical reciprocating motion therein isa cross bar.25.. This cross bar. is provided with projecting pins 26 ywhich extend. through apertures Z'Iyof the casing 5 to engage with the forward newspaper. Urging kthe cross bar to its upper and initial position are springs 2.8 securedvbetween-it'and a part oi the supporting structureas the rods 29. The pins 26A arebent slightly downward as shown inFig. 1, so that `upon downward movement of the cross bar the pins will tend to penetratedeeper into the paper and force itout of the opening, rather than to` tear the .A `shaft. 31 journaled in the front .plate and .a hanger 32,extends-beyondv the iront plate a short distance to receive a crankv 33, or otherlrneansior rotating the shaft. Mounted .on` the shaft4 so as` to engage with the cross'arm 25. is a cam plateY 34. To insure registration betweenlthe cam and,` the cross plata-.the latter may be provided with a =`channel1ed l`element 35 to receive the cam. Upon rotation of the shaft 31 the vcarn..34 will impart a reciproeatory motiontothe cross .bar 25, the spring 28 maintaining the crossfbar against the cam and assisting in returningthem to `their initial positions.- i Y p The 'shaft 31also `carries a disk 36 rotatable therewith.v The disky is provided with a plurality of angularly'. disposed coin receiving recesses 37, each opening Lat the periphery of the disk land having a depth vapp,roxirnately equalto the diameter of the intended coin. The ,number of these recesses is determined by the purchase price of the article to be delivered, Across the circular face of the disk 36 and at one side of each recess 37 so as to communicate with it is a notch 38.

For engagement within these notches, a locking pawl or dog 40 is pivotably carried on a cross pin 41. It may be urged toward the disk by gravity alone or by the provision of a spring 42. To prevent reverse rotation of the disk when the pawl 40 is out of engagement with the notches, a detent 43 is provided. This is pivotably mounted on a cross pin 44 and urged against the disk by a spring 45.

A coin slot 46 leading from the exterior to a point directly in line with the disk recesses 37 supplies a coin to each recess as it comes in regis-V try with the coin slot.

In the operation of the device, when the necessary number of coins have been deposited in the coin slot 46 the iirst one will enter recess 37 in line with it. Upon giving the shaft a turn as by the crank 33, the coin will wedge itself beneath the pawl 40, raising it out of engagement with the notch 38, whereby further rotation of thev shaft may be effected. If a second coin is not present to drop in the nextslot as it appears, the pawl will engage with the adjoining notch and further operation will be prevented. However, when the next coin drops in the recess, the shaft may be rotated as described.

Rotation of the shaft causes the cam 34 to give a downward thrust to the cross bar 25 and since the pins 26 are in engagementwith the forward paper, the paper will be urged Vdownwardly and out of the opening 8 forcing the door 14 aside. As the paper continues to pass out of the casing it will contact with the portion of the guides 19 extending into the inclined passageway between the plates 13 and 20. Under the action of the I doorspring 16, the paper will be forced against the plate 20, thus forcing the guide ways 19 backward into the supporting structure 17 against the y action of springs 23. In driving the guide ways backward the pins 26 will be withdrawn from the paper and eventually will become completely free of it. It will be noted that the plate 13 further directs the` paper being delivered against the guide ways 19. y

When the pins havebeen completely withydrawn from the paper, the cross bar will be returned to its initial position under the action ofthe spring 28, and this will also cause the shaft to return to its initial position since the cross arm acts against the cam 34.` In the return motion of the cross arm, the pins will not tear the vpins will remain clear of it and when the paper is completely removed the guideways 19' under' the action of springs 23 will move into engagement with the next paper. Further delivery'may of course be effected by depositing additional coin and repeating the operation.

The hinged side 7 covers both the open end of the casing 5 andthe open end of the supporting structure 17 enclosing the delivery and coin. release mechanisms. Upon opening this side to -supply the vendor with newspapers, access is gained to the coins which have previously. beenv deposited. To enable the side 7 to be lockedl closed, a keeper bracket 47 is provided which projects through an aperture l0 of the side when in closed position.

I claim:

1. The combination in a vending machine having a chamber for the reception of articles to be delivered, said chamber having an opening for the .discharge of articles therefrom, of delivery mechanism for discharging articles from said chamber through said opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a member having means for engaging an article to be delivered, said member being reciprocable in a direction transverse to its length toward and away from said opening and being movable laterally toward and Aaway from an article to be delivered, guide means for determining the path of movement of the 'member and with respect to which the memberhas reciprocable movement only, said guide means being movably mounted in said machine so that the member may be shifted laterally toward or away from an article and said engaging means will become engaged or disengaged from the, article, said movably mounted guide means constituting the sole guide means for said member, Aand means for reciprocating said member.

2. A vending machine according to claim 1 in which said guide means comprise spaced parallel guideways with which the ends of said membe engage.

3f A vending machine according to claim 1 in which the movable mounting for said guide means includes a-pivotal connection. Y

4. The combination in a vending machine hav ing a chamber for lthe reception of articles to be delivered, said chamber having an opening for the discharge of articles therefrom, of delivery mechanism for discharging articles from said chamber Athrough said opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a cross bar having means for engaging an article to `be delivered, said cross bar being reciprocable in a direction transverse to its length toward and away from said opening and being movable laterally toward and away from` 5. A vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articles tobey delivered, and an opening for the discharge of the articles from said chamber, means for urging the articles to saidv opening, and a delivery mechanism for discharg-l ing the articles from said chamber through said4 opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a supportingstructure, a reciprocable element `having means for engagement with an article to be delivered, guide means for said reciprocable element, said guide means having a portion associated therewith normally-extending into the discharge path from said opening, a mounting for said guide` means carried by the supporting structure, said mounting permitting a yielding movement of the guide means upon contact of said extending portion with` an article being delivered, whereby the engaging meanswill be withdrawn from the article to permit the return of the reciprocal 'element to its initial position, and means for 'imparting a reciprocal movement to said element. f

6. A vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articlesto be deliveredjfandfan opening for the discharge of the articles said chamber, means for urging the articlesk to said opening, anda deliverymechanism for discharging the articlesfrom lsaid chamber Ythroughsaid opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocal element having means for engagement with 'an-article to bedelivered, guide means for said element normally extending into thedischarge path from said opening, a mounting lfor said 'guide means carried by thesupporting structure, said mounting permitting movement of theguide means out of the dis'- charge path upon *contactv with an articlebeing delivered, whereby the engaging rmeans will be withdrawn from the article to permit the return of the reciprocal elementto its initial position, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement tosaid element. V j Y y 7. A vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articles to be delivered, and an opening for the discharge of the articles from said chamben means `forurging the articles to said opening, and a delivery mechanism for dis-` charging the articlesfrom said chamber through said opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, `a reciprocal element having means for engaging with an article to be delivered, .guide means for `said reciprocal element and having "aportion associated therewith normally extending into the discharge path from said opening, a pivotal mounting for said guide means carried by the supporting structure, said mounting permitting a yielding movement of the guide means upon contact of said portion ""said opening, and a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said chamber through said opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocable element having means for engagement with an `'article to be delivered, guide means for said element having a portion associated therewith for extension into the discharge path from said opening, resilient means for urging said portion into said discharge path, a mounting for said t guide means carried by the supporting structure,

said mounting permitting a yielding movement of the guide means upon contact of said portion with an article being delivered, whereby the engaging means will be withdrawn from the article ',to permit the return of the reciprocal element to its initial position, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said element.

9. A vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articles to be delivered, and

'an opening for the discharge of the articles from said chamber, means for urging the articles to said opening, and a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said chamber through said opening, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocable element having means for engagement with an article to be delivered, resilient means for urging said element to an initial position, guide means for said reciprocable element, said guide `inea-ns having a portion associated therewith normally extending into tneidischarge para from said "a mounting forsaid Vguide means carriedv by `the supporting structure,` said 'njiour-itv``l ing permit-tinge 'yielding movement -o'f the guide means upon'contact by 'said portion with an article beingdelivered, whereby the `engaging means will v"be withdrawn from "the article to permit the retu'frnof said element -to its initial position under ac-tion of said 'resilient means,v and means orimparting a reciprocal `movement to the element.

10. A vending machine having .a chamber for the reception of `the articles to be delivered, `and2 an -opening'for the discharge of the articles fromL said chamber, means for urging the articlesft'o' said opening, and a delivery mechanism fordise charging the articles from said chamber throughr said opening, 'said delivery mechanisml comprising a supporting structure secured adjacent the" discharge opening, a reciprocal element having' means for engagement with .an article to be de; livered, 'means for urging said 'element to an ini-tial position, guide means for said element',

a pivotal Aconnection between the guide means f and the supporting structure, means forurgin'g the guide means into the .discharge path from said opening, saidpivotalconnectionpermitting i the gui-de means lupon contact with an*artiizlebeing delivered to move out vof the Vdischarge path` whereby the engaging-means will be withdrawn fromthe article to permitthe return'ff theele` ment to its initial position, and'means for imparting a reciprocal movement to the element.

11. A vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articles to be delivered and an opening for the discharge of the articles from said chamber, means for urging the articles to Isaid opening, a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said chamber through said opening, and pressure means disposed at said opening for urging an article being delivered toward the delivery mechanism, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocal element having means for engagement with an article to be delivered, guide means for said reciprocating element having a portion associated therewith normally extending into the discharge path from said opening, a mounting for said guide means carried by the supporting structure, said mounting permitting a yielding movement of the guide means under the action of said pressuremeans upon the interposition of an article being delivered between said pressure means and said extending portion, whereby the engaging means will be withdrawn from the article to permit the return of the reciprocal element to its initial position, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said element.

12. yA vending machine having a chamber for the reception of the articles to be delivered and an opening for the discharge of the articles from said chamber, means for urging the articles to said opening, a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said chamber through said opening, a closure for said opening, and means for urging said closure to closed position in a direction toward the delivery mechanism whereby an article disposed in said opening will be urged toward the .delivery mechanism, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocal element having means for engagement with an article to be delivered, guide means for said reciprocating element having a portion associated therewith normally extending parting a reciprocal movement to said element.l

13. A vending machine having a casing for the reception of the articles to be delivered, said casing having an opening for the discharge of the articles therefrom, means kfor urging the articles to said opening, a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said casing through said opening, and a guide plate disposed beyond said opening for directing an article being delivered, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a reciprocable element hav-v ing means for engagement with an article to be delivered, guide means for said reciprocabley element, said guide means having a portion associated therewith normally extending to 'a point adjacent said guide plate, a mounting for said guide means carried by the supporting structure, said mounting permitting a yielding .movement of said extending portion of .the guide means upon the interposition of an article being delivered between it and the guide plate whereby the engaging meanswll be withdrawn from the article to permit the return of the reciprocable element to itsinitial .position, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said element.

'14.: A vending machine having a casing for the reception of the articles to be delivered, said casing .having an opening for the discharge of the( articles therefrom, means for urging the articles to said opening, and a delivery mechanism for discharging the articles from said casing, said delivery mechanism comprising a supporting structure extending beyond said opening and forming -Withfsaid casing an inclined dischargey passageway sloping toward the delivery mechanism, a reciprocable element having means for engagement with an article to be delivered, guide means for said reciprocable element, said guide means having a portion associated therewith normally extending into said discharge passageway, a mounting for said guide means carried by the supporting structure, said mounting permitting a yielding movement of said extending portion of the guide means out of said passageway when displaced by an article-being delivered therethrough, whereby the engaging means will be withdrawn from the article to permit the return of the Vreciprocable element to its initial position, and means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said element. n f' JOHN G; MILLER. 

